Vegetarian Salad in a Bag Hack
A Vegetarian Salad in a Bag Hack is when you stretch a “store-bought” bagged salad mixture to make more, with added nuts, cheese, veggies, and favorite toppings to make it your own! Take a serving of 2 and stretch it to serve 4!
This Vegetarian Salad in a bag “hack” is nothing new, but a great reminder of how to stretch a “chopped salad kit” (company is stopping by?), or to just jazz up a salad. If you’re a salad lover like I am, and you’ve tried this My Favorite Strawberry Spinach Salad that I served last weekend (so good), you may be in a pinch for time and need a quicker recipe.
The grocery store produce section is packed with bagged salad kits. And I’m sure you have your favorites like I do. Salad kits are a great way to get your greens in on a daily basis, plus they are filling, especially when you add protein (optional) and more veggies. Also, salad prep at home can save you money if you want to do it that way.
Vegetarian Salad in a Bag kick
Ever since we enjoyed those salads, we’ve been on a salad kick, which is why I want to share my Salad in a Bag Hack with you. It’s a way to dress up a salad in a bag quickly, and make it tasty and good enough for company!
I think sometimes we forget that a salad in a bag can be a complete meal – containing, not only fresh greens, but also different components of a great salad, such as cheese, croutons, and dressing. Take all the ingredients, toss them in a bowl, and your salad is ready to be served! But take it a step further! My hack is to stretch the salad to feed more, and add a lot more nutrition. It can be used as a main course for lunch or as a perfect side salad during dinner.
Ingredients for stretching a Vegetarian Salad in a Bag
- Salad in a bag
- Lemon (Meyer Lemon is the best!)
- Red onion
- Spinach
- Toasted pecans
- Avocado
- Cracked black pepper
- Serve with Trader Joe’s Parmesan toasts
Sandy’s tips and substitutions:
- The bagged salad that is my favorite is this Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kit by Fresh Express. It’s refreshing, with roasted edamame, roasted sunflower seeds, and toasted quinoa, crisp kale, romaine and cabbage, with delicious sweet onion dressing.
- The secret for me in making this for a meal for my husband and me is to add the “extras” and then protein (optional), like rotisserie chicken or leftover steak.
- Add a half squeezed lemon–this really makes the salad.
- Then add fresh avocado, with cracked black pepper —so good!
How do I get salad in a bag to last longer?
- Did you know all you have to do is open the bagged salad and place a paper towel inside? The paper towel absorbs moisture, meaning your lettuce leaves don’t.
- This simple trick keeps your stored greens crisp and fresh for (usually) over a week.
- I’ve used a paper towel in a bag with the big heads of romaine lettuce and kept the leaves fresh for almost three weeks.
Voila! You’re done. Wasn’t that easy? Which chopped salad kits are your favorites? Share your salad hack with me on @reluctantentertainer on Instagram. I’d love to see your creations! You can watch mine, here!
More delicious salads:
- Avocado Pine Nut Salad
- Skinny Pink Salmon Green Salad Recipe
- Cucumber and Chickpea Salad
- Marinated Chickpea Tuna Salad
Get the Recipe:
Vegetarian Salad in a Bag Hack
Ingredients
- 1 bag Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kit by Fresh Express
- ½ Meyer lemon, juiced
- Thin slices red onion
- 2-4 handfuls of fresh spinach
- ½ cup toasted pecans
- 1 avocado
- Cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Place the salad kit ingredients in a large bowl, including the dressing.
- Add ½ fresh squeezed lemon.
- Add the red onions, spinach, toasted pecans, and toss.
- Lastly, add the cubed avocado and fresh cracked pepper. Serve and enjoy!
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
